Fish or cut NOAA, Americans say the choice is obvious!

May 18, 2025

Americans nationwide are upset with Congress's call to gut NOAA and fillet marine education programs. We elected federal legislators to serve us, their constituents, not to serve up harmful algal blooms, ocean dead zones, and rot.

We deserve and need all the knowledge from researching and monitoring marine and aquatic systems for transportation, industry, recreation, fisheries council work, and weather. The ocean cools our climate in summer and warms it in winter. In its name, NOAA places the word “ocean” before “atmosphere” because the ocean controls the climate.

Congress should not cut seven vital NOAA programs: NOAA Coastal Zone Management, NOAA Sea Grant Programs, NOAA Cooperative Institutes, the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), also known as NOAA Research.

With much of our national economy dependent on oceans and the Great Lakes and stormier weather on the horizon, now is not the time to reduce or stop NOAA’s collaborative research, monitoring, modeling, predictions, and risk analysis.

FOR COD AND COUNTRY! Fund NOAA!

Here’s a selection of the hundreds of comments holding legislators on Capitol Hill accountable for their actions to cut NOAA or save the ocean, arranged alphabetically by state.

Alaska is so dependent on oceans…we are already experiencing devastating fishing issues…please keep NOAA work going. Thea Whitehead, Wasilla, AK

Without the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), our planet will be in extreme danger. We’ll be flying blind. People will be imperiled by not knowing what is happening, especially how climate change threatens all of Earth's inhabitants. D S, Muscle Shoals, AL

We cannot have vital information as crucial as this taken away from those who live and work in this country. Jordan Burress, Bella Vista, AR

NOAA does very important work for all Americans. The ocean is essential for the future of our planet. Our planet needs all the help that it can get. Joe Murphy, Conway, AR

As a biologist (marine mammals), I know about NOAA programs. Communities around the world depend on the results of ocean research. NOAA projects and publicly reported data must be continued and, yes, expanded to protect and support our economy and the country's security. Dean Griswold, Fair Oaks, CA

As a family of commercial fishermen, we are reliant on NOAA reports to stay safe, Paul Henninger, Garberville, CA

We have a thriving surf and diving community here in Laguna Beach. It is because of our water monitoring systems and the preservation of our kelp forests. This, in turn, feeds the multitude of sea creatures living within the tidal zone and reverberates into the depths of the sea. Please do not defund the NOAA. The health of humans and sea life depends on them. Tiffany Casler, Laguna Beach, CA

I love NOAA. We depend on NOAA to tell us if my son's boats are safe on the ocean and whether it's a good time to take a class of young children to the beach. In my lifetime, I've learned a lot from NOAA about the ocean, life in the ocean, and understanding the research. We would be in danger if it weren't for NOAA. Nancy Martin, Santa Barbara, CA

In Colorado, NOAA's work is crucial to mitigating the increasing dangers of wildfire, and managing threatened water supplies for residential, agricultural and recreational use. NOAA provides protection and safety for all Americans. Our society depends on this. Michael Reshetnik, Boulder, CO

One of my biggest concerns is that we are drowning in plastic. Gehr Brown, Darien, CT

We need to know about changes to ocean currents, as they effect weather patterns around the globe. George Lamb, Fairfield, CT

Research on the global oceans is crucial for understanding the changes occurring due to climate change. Linda James, Millsboro, DE

I won't mince words. I'm a 78-year-old female who lives on an island in SWFL. This idea of CUUTING NOAA is completely stupid! >:( Joan Wiersma, Bokeelia, FL

Cutting NOAA puts our communities at high risk. The work they do is critical to keep us informed and safe. Programs like these are vital to our lives and future, Janell Copello, Snellville, GA

Our national economy depends on the oceans Great Lakes, affecting everyone in the US and globally, Especially now with oceans rising and more extreme storms, we need to fund NOAA fully. Melissa Pearson, Fairfield, IA

The importance of NOAA Research cannot be overstated. The condition of our marine environments defines the habitability of our planet. Life as we know it on Earth depends on the marine systems. We have to understand and support their health and well-being. DO NOT CUT FUNDING FOR NOAA RESEARCH! David Walker, Sandpoint, ID

HOLY MACKEREL! Fund NOAA!

We vacationed near a NOAA ship, and I remember being so proud that our country was paying attention to this critical science. Joseph Getty, Collinsville, IL

Water is our liquid gold. Protect it!!!!! Sharon Baker, Goshen, IN

I was born and raised loving the Great Lakes. They are a true National Treasure. We must protect them. Cecilia Nakamura, Hebron, KY

Louisiana has one of the most active seafood industries in the nation and is an essential part of our economy. Good management of our resources is vital to maintain this resource, and information is imperative to this. NOAA is an invaluable member of this initiative. Susan Edmunds, New iberia, La

NOAA has played a crucial role in funding the research that allows us to assist marine species struggling due to warming ocean temperatures, increasing levels of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the ocean from runoff, which cause toxic algal blooms, and the decline of corals and seagrasses. We must protect what we can to preserve these species, as ocean ecosystems support the fish we rely on as an important food source. Julie Bernstein, Dover, MA

We need to monitor the condition of our waters to ensure the well-being of all of us. Rosalind Ivens, Bucksport, ME

The SEA Grant program has been crucial for the Great Lakes ecosystems and for everyone who lives around the lakes and travels to the Great Lakes States. Martha Kirpes, Ann Arbor, MI

Oceans drive our weather, which affects all of us. Ignore this vital resource, and we all suffer. Mike Conley, Fenton, MO

We rely on clean, healthy oceans, lakes, and rivers. Please do not cut these programs. Elaine Costolo, Picayune, MS

NOAA Cooperative Institutes provide valuable research that forms the scientific basis for environmental policy decisions. My hometown of Missoula benefits from climate change mitigation efforts and the robust research at the University of Montana. John Dunkum, Missoula, MT

The NOAA has been instrumental in supporting repairing and reconstructing a battered coastline in the Charleston, SC, area, where my family and I have vacationed each summer for decades. I am grateful for their work. Carla Jung, Charlotte, NC

As a taxpayer, I'm ok with the US staying on top of science and research and keeping NOAA programs intact. We should not be going back into the Dark Ages to save a nickel. Research and science are critical. Jan Scott, Wendell, NC

My family spent years living on Grenadier Island and visiting the St. Lawrence River until the fish and water became polluted. It's a beautiful, wonderful area harmed by humans. Now, living in Nebraska, I see how humans poison soil, water, and even air. Let us, as humans, be responsible stewards of this land and earth, not abusers, PLEASE! Bonnie Yohe, Lincoln, NE

Also, please support the National Estuarine Research Reserves, such as Great Bay, New Hampshire, managed by New Hampshire Fish and Game, with help from NOAA funding, and New Hampshire Sea Grant. Their research benefits the Atlantic fishery. Richard Minnick, Newmarket, NH

NOAA is one of the most vital and beneficial agencies in our nation. We depend on NOAA's research in various fields, including transportation, shipping, agriculture, fisheries, urban and rural planning, coastal resilience, and much more. Michael Brandes, Fort Lee, NJ

Since its inception, NOAA has assumed oversight and research in previously neglected areas of interest across a broad spectrum of natural phenomena. It would be criminal to curtail, abandon, or brush aside the significant progress NOAA has made in enhancing our understanding of biotic and abiotic systems. Lawry Sager, Albuquerque, NM

Taking care of our planet is essential if we are to survive. Being good stewards of our planet can ensure we survive, grow, and prosper as human beings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alan Gill, Las Vegas, NV

My home is on the shore of the Upper St. Lawrence and within the Seaway. NOAA is invaluable for the many ships, barges, and commerce on this waterway, as well as for recreation. We always need all the meteorological resources and research that NOAA offers. Janet Burrows, Clayton, NY

I live on the Great Lakes -- Lake Erie is only a few miles from my house -- and consequently, I am keenly interested in its health, both for myself and my children and grandchildren. I urge you to continue to protect the Great Lakes -- and all our bodies of water. Cathleen Wootan, Cleveland, OH

NOAA is an indispensable agency for many Americans. People engaged in boating, sailing, flying, farming, ranching, and construction—the list is endless—rely on it. They monitor the weather and ocean systems, facilitating future planning for coastal storms and urban development. Neil Fisher, Sand Springs, OK

In Oregon, we have an amazing opportunity to achieve fishery restoration and habitat protection results. This is crucial for our tourism economy and resource management. We have an offshore marine park and a research center. Please advocate for these sensible scientific tools. They are essential to Oregon's economy. Catherine Miller, Lake Oswego, OR

Sea Grant at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon, provides outstanding marine research, education, and outreach opportunities for K-12 students. I have been a volunteer with these programs for over 15 years. These educators are exceptional and brilliant due to their excellence in offering hands-on, practical experience and knowledge of our fragile marine ecosystems. Their expertise is vital for our students and communities. Annie Thorp, Salem, OR

I live near the Susquehanna River, and it is essential that NOAA can tell us about river levels and threats of flooding. It pays for itself by allowing people to prepare for this threat. Janet Bargh, Harrisburg, PA

Our earth and waters need all the help they can get! Kate Champa, Providence, RI

I live in Charleston, South Carolina, and NOAA is critical to the preservation of our fisheries, the health of our ocean, and the ability of our community to prepare in advance of hurricanes. Without the crucial information that science offers, our future and the future of our children are doomed. Laurie Clarke, Mt. Pleasant, SC

We need NOAA and its research to keep our oceans healthy and prevent further shoreline collapse. Carol Burgess, Huntingdon, TN

Our oceans are some of our most valuable and essential resources on Earth. Please stand up for them and be on the right side of history. Thank you. Benjamin Crudup, Frisco, TX

NOAA provides vital services for all Americans. Mark Setterberg, Houston, TX

NOAA provides our family with vital weather information that keeps us safe during our long-distance sailing trips. Warwick Hansell, Cottonwood Heights, UT

Oceans cover 75% of the Earth. 100% of the Earth is covered by air. As a retired U.S. Coast Guard officer, NOAA was an essential partner in helping me safely execute the assignments and missions I was tasked with. America needs to know and understand what is occurring in these gigantic systems. Timothy Terriberry, Fredericksburg, VA

As a retired Coast Guard officer who relied on weather reports, navigational charts and fisheries data, I know the country needs good weather forecasting and marine science supported by NWS, NMFS--all of NOAA. Peter Fontneau, Springfield, VA

WHALES ARE US! Fund NOAA

The weather service and our oceans are vital and essential. Any cuts to NOAA put everyone in danger and at risk of being unprepared for natural disasters. Kym Harris, St. John, VI

We need the NOAA to maintain and protect the health of Lake Champlain, which is of crucial economic importance to the states of Vermont and New York. Please preserve funding for NOAA—don’t decimate it! Carol Harry, Bethel, VT

We need NOAA in Washington state to help us monitor salmon, orcas, tides, and weather events that threaten our coastline and cities. Tracy Ouellette, Bow, WA

Living on the coast makes the importance of the NOAA quite stark. Please support the safety of your constituents and fully fund the NOAA! Jennifer Manchester, Ilwaco, WA

Oceans are vital to Earth’s survival and everything upon it. Commerce is essential, and safe ocean traversing is necessary. Understanding the conditions of our oceans is very important. Do not cut NOAA and OAR budgets! Greg Miller, Madison, WI

NOAA is one of our most important federal agencies that benefits every state, every day. The research, tracking, and warnings they provide can literally mean the difference between life and death. Without NOAA being at full strength, the cost in dollars and lives will far outweigh any “savings” gained from cutbacks to NOAA. Kemmeth Rivers, Hurricane, WV

All NOAA programs are vital for the health of the ocean and its residents. They are vital to understanding, protecting, and promoting our oceans and atmosphere! LenaMae Maki, Laramie, WY

Fish or cut NOAA, Americans say the choice is obvious!

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